Collectors' Choice's clever repackaging of
Bing Crosby radio shows continued apace with
Bing on Broadway, a collection of 19 show tunes, all of them recorded for his radio show between 1954 and 1956. A
Bing Crosby radio show was not a place for low-quality material, though --
Crosby put time and pride into these songs, and although he pre-recorded much of this material, for that reason it doesn't sound radio-show quality at all. And the songs can't be beat either, with a program full of gems as shiny as "Crazy Rhythm," "How Long Has This Been Goin' On," "Ain't Misbehavin'," "It's Only a Paper Moon," "Come Rain or Come Shine," and even "Swanee" (the latter being one of the few songs here that came along before even
Crosby's time). The arrangements and accompaniment are headed by
Buddy Cole and his small group, which gives these songs an intimate feel often lacking in
Crosby's regular studio sides. ~ John Bush